Obviously, anything is just speculation, but I envisioned this line being delivered by Jor-El to a kryptonian council. I got the feeling that Krypton had a type of caste system in which children were brought up to fill certain roles, so he is asking the question. I also assumed that it could be the initial reason that Jor-El plans to send his son and maybe his whole family off-world. That's why the ship would be ready when sudden destruction spreads across the planet.

Just my theory.

Exactly how I pictured it, the way that line is delivered he's definitely talking to a group of people.